FINCHforum

Hi!

I have four pairs of gouldians. I read that I should treat them with Ronivet when they arrive home, which I did for 7 days.

I was also adviced to keep using Ronivet frequently during breeding, because I remember reading that the canker infection is not curable, you can just control it, and it passes from parents to babies. Specially it is supposed to be so if they were raised by societies (which I don´t know). So I am treating them again, (for another 7 days), and I plan to treat them again in a few weeks, but I am afraid it may be too much; do you do this?

Some breeders who foster thier gouldian eggs under societies will recommend treating with this through the rearing but I feel that the over medication will keep the gouldian chick's immune systems from developing properly. If your gouldians are raising thier own chicks then why medicate at all?

I am not breeding yet, I am trying to breed; they are in pairs with their nests. I hope they breed and the parents will breed the chicks, but I don´t know what will happen. Anyway, if my gouldians were raised by societies (which I can´t know), supposedly they can pass the infection (even when they seem healthy now) to their babies... Well, that´s what I understand, and I am afraid of losing babies (if I ever get them). But I am also afraid of over-medicating them. I would like to know your opinion.

I am new to this society fostering thing myself. I have 3 gouldian chicks under societies now and I had experienced breeders tell me that if they make it past 6 weeks then they are "clear" and that the societies were clean. On the other hand if I start having losses then suspect the societies may be carriers.
So I would think that if you have adult gouldians that are of breeding age then they must be clear of those diseases carried by some society... (not all societies do)

Canker is not one that you can't get rid of.

In carrier species like Societies, Cochlosoma is said to be difficult or impossible to completely eradicate but to my knowledge no studies have really been done to show whether or not this is accurate.

Canker is really something that is more prevalent in species like pigeons, doves, poultry and in out door aviaries.

It's not necessarily that Canker is hard to kill with meds, but you really have to make sure you are keeping the environment clean to prevent reinfection.
The canker cysts do not survive long in the environment, but if you have open drinkers that the birds can poop in, or if you do not clean your cages, perches, food dishes, etc., regularly, then the birds can easily reinfect themselves.
So perhaps "reinfection" is mistaken as "being impossible to eradicate."

Canker is also EASILY diagnosed by an avian vet. They can swab the esophagus and see the little protozoans under the microscope. Also, if the bird is severely infected you will actually be able to see the gross yellow lesions through the skin on the throat.

You can not "preventatively" treat for protozoa.

This is like saying I'm going to take an anti-biotic now to prevent a bacterial infection in a week.
They only work against existing infections, so if your birds are not infected with anything, then the meds won't do anything now, and they won't prevent anything after the meds have stopped.

The only "preventative" protozoal drugs are coccidio-static drugs like Cocci-care which are used in outdoor aviaries during warm, humid conditions to help prevent infection with cocciodiosis.
These drugs don't cure existing infections though. (Cocci is another protozoa, and can be treated with Trimethoprim Sulfa among other things like Baycox/Baytril)

I used to use Ronivet on all new birds, but I've since quit medicating and just watch them for signs of illness.

For breeding, I only use Ronivet for one set of societies that I adopted from the local shelter, and only because any chicks they raised before Ronivet fell ill. With the medication they raise fat and healthy chicks. I've never had a problem with any of my other birds, so don't use it for anybody else. When I do use it (which is rarely now since these two have pretty much decided that they're now retired) I provide it for the week before the chicks hatch.

I don't have gouldians but I looked up cancker societies and found this explanation, they also sell products and have what they call a 12 step program. They also recommend Ronivet.

http://www.gorgeousgouldians.com/a-protozoa.asp

I have used Ronivet many times as a five day treatment for my birds when they would seem a little "off". It has done wonders for them.

I have used the cocci-care twice a year as a prevenative.